Conservation update: Northern bald ibis, Cikananga and Fundación Jocotoco

Hellabrunn Zoo supports a total of 14 long-term conservation projects around the world, including the Cikananga Wildlife Center in Indonesia, the Fundación Jocotoco for the protection of the brown-headed spider monkey in Ecuador, and the international Waldrappteam, which is dedicated to the reintroduction of the northern bald ibis (Waldrapp), one of the world’s rarest birds.

Northern Bald Ibis Symposium in southern Spain

Last week, Hellabrunn Zoo’s conservation curator Dr Eric Diener participated in the International Northern Bald Ibis Symposium in southern Spain to discuss further cooperation with various stakeholders and organisations on the conservation of this endangered bird species. The northern bald ibis was once widespread throughout southern Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and large parts of southern Europe. However, by the late Middle Ages, the species was considered extirpated in Europe due to   overexploitation, particularly hunting. Only small sedentary colonies persisted in Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, and Syria, which when discovered in the 20th century were found struggling to survive under suboptimal conditions, such as drought. In an effort to save the species, a number of birds were brought from Morocco to zoos in Europe, and reintroduction projects were launched in the Alps as well as in Spain.

The aim of the symposium was to bring together all stakeholders from the Alps, Spain, Morocco, Turkey, and Syria, as well as representatives from universities and zoos working with the northern bald ibis. The key focus was on connecting the individual northern bald ibis populations and coordinating further conservation projects. Hellabrunn Zoo plans to actively participate in reintroduction projects for the northern bald ibis in the medium term.

Hellabrunn Zoo supports construction of new aviary at Cikananga

Since 2023, Hellabrunn has been actively involved in the conservation of Indonesian songbirds as part of its measures to redesign its Jungle World programme. The zoo is one of the three core partners of the Cikananga Wildlife Center that provides support to the conservation organisation in the Indonesian forest for conservation breeding of endangered endemic birds in Indonesia. Important contributions by the zoo include financial support for the construction of a new aviary, which was recently completed.

In April, Dr Eric Diener will visit the Cikananga Wildlife Center to exchange views on the work of the veterinary practice with the team there, to discuss future collaboration, and to promote intensive knowledge sharing on animal care, conservation and the reintroduction of endangered songbirds. A visit to a nature reserve for a potential release into the wild is also planned.

The songbirds of Southeast Asia face numerous threats. The most challenging are deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade. In Indonesia, millions of birds are trapped from the wild and sold, leading to a dramatic decline in their populations. The EAZA Silent Forest Campaign has been working to raise awareness of the crisis since its launch in 2017. The Cikananga Conservation Breeding Center (CCBC) breeds endangered songbird species and plans their reintroduction. They work closely with local communities to create alternative income opportunities and educate inhabitants about the need to protect the unique nature on their doorstep.

Sponsoring Fundación Jocotoco rangers

Hellabrunn Zoo is committed to protecting the Ecuadorian brown-headed spider monkey in the Canandé Reserve in northern Ecuador. This protected area is home to the largest remaining population of this endangered subspecies of the brown-headed spider monkey. The zoo’s support for the foundation includes sponsoring the annual salary of five park rangers. With less than 500 individuals remaining in the wild, the Ecuadorian brown-headed spider monkey is one of the most endangered primates in the world. The Canandé Reserve is home to one of the largest known populations: over 250 individuals live here in troops of up to 30. Daily observations by park rangers show that the monkeys are reproducing successfully. However, determining the exact population size is difficult because the area is difficult to access and the monkeys are widely dispersed in small groups during the day. 

Hellabrunn Zoo will also host lectures on other exciting species conservation projects in the coming months. You can find more information about the schedule at www.hellabrunn.de/vortraege